You know those cold sores that appear out of no where – just when you least expect them or want them?  These are usually a result of the herpes virus.  Don’t be too alarmed though.  Even though herpes is a sexually transmitted virus there are two strains of the herpes virus and the one that causes cold sores is highly contagious and easily transmitted through casual contact.

The two strains of herpes virus are HSV-1 and HSV-2.  Most commonly, the HSV-1 virus is the culprit with fever blisters or cold sores while the HSV-2 is more commonly called genital herpes.   However, the herpes virus can infect people through an open cut or wound or even if there is a minor break in the skin.  Because of the prevalence of oral sex, the HSV-1 virus isn’t just found above the waist and HSV-2 isn’t just found below the waist.

Even though this is the case, the rate of HSV-1 is much greater in the population than HSV-2 because the transmission is easier and more common.  This answers the question of how you can get oral herpes.

The first task is to determine if the sore that you suspect to be herpes is actually herpes.  There are other possibilities that aren’t as infectious but do cause some of the same symptoms, such as canker sores or aphthous ulcerations.  The best course of action is to have the sore evaluated and tested by a physician to determine if it is indeed herpes.

The transmission of oral herpes is common and relatively easy.  Recent research has found that 98% of a healthy population will shed the herpes virus without having an active infection either through tears, saliva or blood.  Many infections are actually acquired during childhood through innocent contact.

For instance, by sharing a glass or eating utensil with someone who has had infections but may not even have an active infection presently the virus can spread from one to another.  Even when great Aunt Martha plants a big one near your mouth she could be spreading HSV-1, and consequently, it’s one way you can get oral herpes.  Oral herpes is very contagious and easy to contract through daily activities.

Because an infected person may not know when they are actively shedding the virus use of latex condoms during oral sex is highly recommended to prevent the spread of the virus.

A person who has oral herpes may not know when they originally contracted the infection.  The original infection is often different from subsequent recurrent infections.  Symptoms of the original infection include fever, general body aches,  headache, pain with swallowing, a number of blisters that form ulcerations in and around the mouth that interfere with the ability to eat and eventually heal 10-14 days later.

The initial infection is called herpes stomatitis and may go completely unnoticed if the person suffers from a sub-clinical case or the initial infection is concurrent with another childhood illness.  Once the initial infection is healed the virus will retreat into the body and either replicate and shed or go ‘dormant’ and only reactivate during times of stress.

How you can get oral herpes is through contact with people who already have the infection.  But, since many people shed the virus even though they have never had an active infection, or even know they are carrying the virus, this transmission becomes too easy and accounts for the high number of people who suffer from HSV-1 infections.

At this time there is no cure for herpes but physicians do have medications that can help with the symptoms and the pain associated with the outbreak.  Currently there are also medications that can decrease the number of outbreaks a person may suffer.

Positive Singles is without a doubt THE most popular dating site for people with herpes and other STDs.  It is for both singles and non-singles, so if you haven’t yet joined, be sure to read our full review and set up your free profile today. Our full Positive Singles review is now live – click here to read it now.

HSV Singles is one of the newer herpes dating sites to become available. The site uses cutting-edge technology and is steadily gaining traction. If you have been curious about the site, now is the time to read our full review and set up your free profile. Our full HSV Singles review is now live – click here to read it now.

Discover Herpes Dating Sites

Large scale general dating sites were the first to reach the internet, gaining a lot of popularity. Once these dating sites had saturated the online dating market, the next step was to create dating sites that focused on specific niche audiences. Herpes dating sites are one example of these specialized niche dating sites, catering to specific people that have something common amongst them.

People who have herpes may feel uncomfortable looking for friends and potential mates on general dating sites, because admitting that they are suffering from a sexually transmitted infection is not always easy. However, by signing up for herpes dating sites rather than general dating sites, these people can feel much more comfortable with the dating scene.

Herpes dating sites are designed to cater to people with herpes. When two people suffering from herpes date, it is obviously much safer as there is no worry about transmitting anything from one person to another.

Not only do herpes dating sites exist to provide an avenue for dating for people who have herpes, but they can also be a huge resource of support and also tend to provide a wealth of information relating to health and wellness and other topics of concern for people who use the site. Some Herpes dating sites, like MPWH (Meet People with Herpes) have as many as 68,000 subscribers, meaning that there is a real community out there that you can become a part of.

In addition to dating resources, herpes dating sites like the above also offer information on:

• Diet information
• Helpful advice
• Symptoms information, such as how gentile herpes affects men and women differently
• Mistaken conditions and properly diagnosing herpes
• Scientific and statistical information about herpes
• Prognosis of disease
• Prevention
• Symptoms
• Outbreaks
• Safe sex / preventing transmission
• And a great deal more

The focus of these herpes dating sites is to create a true community for people who are dealing with herpes, rather than making them feel left out in the dating scene.

Having herpes is not the end of the world for anyone, and herpes dating sites online are beginning to prove this. By creating communities where people with herpes are welcome to come together and talk, chat, get to know each other and even go on dates together. Niche dating sites like these, herpes dating sites, are an excellent example of how dating sites can capitalize on choosing and focusing on one single niche rather than trying to please an entire community.

When like-minded or similar people can come together and have a good dating experience through the internet is when you know that a particular dating site has been successful. Herpes dating sites are no exception, as they give people suffering from gentile herpes a place to feel comfortable sharing themselves and getting to know other people that are compatible with them. Not only are these herpes dating sites places where people can connect, but they also serve as support groups and communities where information can be shared and found.  Check out our herpes dating site reviews and meet singles today!

Most people know that herpes is a sexually transmitted disease. Herpes Simplex Virus is responsible for genital herpes. The two types of herpes simplex viruses are: Herpes Simplex Type 1 and Herpes Simplex Type 2.

You can’t catch herpes from a toilet seat, it is spread from direct contact and is common in both males and females. There is no cure for herpes so the focus is on relieving the symptoms and decreasing the length of an outbreak, and there are many effective herpes home remedies that can help you do that. The most reliable treatments work best when applied as soon as possible after an outbreak.

Genital herpes is caused by both the herpes simplex viruses, 1 and 2. Type 1 usually forms on the lips and produces cold sores and fever blisters, however it can also cause lesions in the genital area.

The type 2 is the most common cause for the genital variety of herpes. This is transferred from one person to another during sexual activities.

The most common symptoms of herpes are: itching, burning, leg pain and discomfort, pain in the buttocks and genitals, vaginal discharge, a bloated feeling in the stomach, headache, fever, sore muscles, pain during urination, and swollen groin glands.

The problem is that the symptoms are often not recognized so it can be easy to spread the disease from one person to another since they might not know they even have it. It usually takes anywhere from two days to ten days for the symptoms to show up and the symptoms can be different from one person to the next. The symptoms, when they do show up, will usually last up to three weeks.

Some home remedies for herpes can be:

1. Taking a warm bath or washing the affected areas a few times a day with a soft cloth and warm water. Make sure you let the affected areas dry thoroughly. If it’s more comfortable use a blow dryer instead of rubbing the area with a towel, to dry off. Wearing breathable cotton clothes is better than synthetic options.

2. There are also over the counter medications that can help lower the fever and decrease the pain when you have an outbreak.

Here are some things you can do that can help reduce the number of outbreaks you get:

1. Don’t let yourself get overly tired. Always try to get enough sleep.
2. Avoid a lot of sun exposure.
3. Don’t wear tight, un-breathable clothes that can cause chafing.
4. Try to de-stress. Getting rid of stress in your life will help so many areas of your health and well being.
5. Avoid spicy, deep fried, and junk food.
6. Don’t soak in water immediately after you’ve worked out.
7. Don’t exercise right after you’ve eaten.

Some herbal remedies you can try are: echinacea, ginseng, aloe vera, lysine, and zinc.

While herpes can’t be cured you can use these simple-to-follow herpes home remedies to lessen the number and severity of outbreaks. And remember, even if you don’t have any symptoms you can still pass this on to others, so always practice safe sex.

Just a quick update to let you know that we are in the process of doing some herpes dating site reviews. So far we have reviewed three of them: PositiveSingles.com, HSVDating.com and STDFriends.com. You can read the reviews here:

Herpes Dating Site Reviews or http://www.herpes360.com/Dating/

We definitely plan on reviewing more sites.  If there is a review you would like us to do, please feel free to contact us and we’ll see if we can schedule it in soon.

How long do cold sores last? Well, it has been my experience that cold sores last approximately two weeks depending on their size and severity. If you are like me and are one of approximately 60 million Americans who are prone to developing cold sores then you already know how long they last and how bad they can get.

Cold sores, or fever blisters, are caused by the herpes simplex virus and present themselves as small clusters of blisters on your lip or the skin around your mouth. At first, before the blisters form, you can sometimes feel them starting by feeling a little soreness at the spot where they will develop or even feel a tingling sensation in the same area. If you do feel them coming on and can get treatment started immediately, they may only last a few days or not even amount to anything at all.

One thing you can try is putting an ice cube on the tingling area the moment you feel the sensation. Hold it to the spot for a few minutes. I have found that this sometimes can really help to minimize the outbreak when it occurs.

If they do become full blown cold sores you will have the blisters, redness and pain to go along with them. The blisters are filled with a clear fluid that drains out of the blisters after a few days. The cold sores are contagious up until the time they are scabbed over and dry. They may still be very painful at this point, though, and you will still want to refrain from kissing anyone until they are fully healed.

The herpes simplex virus gets spread from person to person through direct contact with the infected person or the clear fluid that gets transferred from the infected person to eating utensils or anything else they put in their mouth. Cold sores are not exclusive to the area around the mouth either, they can spread to other areas of the body and the herpes simplex virus also causes genital herpes.

There is no cure for the herpes simplex virus, or HSV, and once you have it, you have it for life. Diagnosis is easy since cold sores are so visible. If you get cold sores often or they become so severely painful you should see your doctor for treatment. He or she can prescribe a medication to assist in answering the how long do cold sores last question and reduce the number you get and their severity.

There are many over the counter treatments available and they may help. Over the counter medication works best, though, only if you can get it to the cold sore immediately before the blisters form. If the blisters form, it may still help in healing them up a little quicker but you will not want to use it if the blisters have already opened up. This is a very painful experience.

Some things you should keep in mind so you do not spread the virus when you get a cold sore are to wash your hands often and do not touch the cold sore, you will only succeed in spreading the virus. Avoid triggers like increased stressful situations, excessive exposure to sunlight, even catching a cold or the flu can be a trigger. Also avoid sharing utensils, towels, razors or other things the infected person has used.

How long do cold sores last depends on how soon you start treating them and how severe they are to begin with.

If you get cold sores, remedies are available over the counter to help relieve the pain and help heal them.

The best thing you can do for yourself if you get cold sores frequently is to keep them moist with an ointment that you can get at any pharmacy location. Do not try to use any kind of waxy stick to keep them moist. You will just do more harm than good because the hard wax will catch and pull on your lips and rip open the cold sores. Cold sores are painful enough, they do not need any help in the hurt department.

Cold sores are sometimes called fever blisters and are characterized by the small clusters of blisters that form on your lips and on the skin around the outside of your mouth. Cold sores are caused by the herpes simplex virus 1 or 2. They can cause incredible pain and be very embarrassing especially if you get them often.

If you happen to get frequent cold sores, remedies are available from your doctor. You should consider seeing your doctor if the cold sores you get cause severe pain, a sore throat, swollen lymph glands, or a fever. Your doctor can treat cold sores with an antiviral medication that will decrease the severity and frequency of the cold sores you get. If you get lucky you may not have an outbreak for a year or even two.

Although the herpes simplex virus has no cure, the symptoms associated with the cold sores caused by the virus can be controlled with the right treatment from your doctor.

To prevent outbreaks from happening in the first place try to steer clear of stressful situations. Stress can and will trigger cold sores. Excessive exposure to sunlight can trigger cold sores also. So, make sure to use a sunscreen when you will be out in the sun for a long periods of time. Sometimes it seems as if just thinking about them can trigger them and that is the worst of all, basically getting them for no reason.

If you have a cold sore, do what you can to not transfer the virus to anyone else. Wash your hands frequently and do not touch your mouth. You will infect anything you touch after touching your mouth so be very careful. Do not share eating utensils, cups, or any other item you have used with another person or you will pass on the virus to them.

Other triggers include getting a cold or flu. Sometimes you will get a cold sore instead of a cold or the flu which to some, may be a blessing in disguise. I would much rather have to deal with getting a cold sore rather than dealing with a cold or the flu.

There are several remedies on the market and you should try them to see which ones work best for you. Some may work to help heal the cold sores a little sooner and some may just relieve the pain better than others. Mostly you just need to manage the symptoms with the over the counter cold sores remedies that are available.

Herpes simplex 1 is the virus behind cold sores. Up to 80% of the population has this virus in their body, though it is dormant for much of the time. Anyone who has ever had a painful, and ugly, outbreak has one main question that they want answered: how to get rid of cold sores fast. Even though cold sores don’t last forever, it can seem that way sometimes. But there are some things you can do to make life a little easier.

Of course the best thing to do is to not get an outbreak to begin with. Make sure you keep your immune system strong by getting enough sleep, eating properly and washing your hands frequently. None of these things will guarantee that you won’t get a cold sore, but they sure can help.

It’s also a good idea to avoid using personal items from anyone who has an active outbreak. Steer clear of razors, toothbrushes, glasses, lipstick, etc. You’ll also want to keep the kissing to a minimum – sorry

Cold sores will be more likely to rear their ugly little heads when you are overly stressed or tired. Try to keep balance in your life (not always easy, I know) and you might be able to avoid some outbreaks.

Once you’ve got a cold sore the only thing you can think of is how to get rid of cold sores fast. The sooner you start treating your cold sore the sooner you can be rid of it.

Here are some ideas:

1. Keep the area around the cold sore dry and clean. Cold sores love a moist environments so by keeping the area clean and dry you are depriving it of what it needs to make it’s self at home.

2. As soon as you get an outbreak, get a new toothbrush. The moist toothbrush can actually harbor more of the virus. Also, don’t forget that if your toothbrush has come into contact with the tube of toothpaste, make sure you replace that too.

3. Taking a supplement to help keep yourself strong might also help you quicken the recovery time. You may not totally stop an outbreak, but you might be able to hasten it’s departure.

4. Herbal remedies like lemon balm, echinacea and tea tree oil can also help the healing when applied to the affected area.

5. Learn to deal with stressful situations by learning to meditate, or do yoga, or whatever it is that will help you keep balance in your life.

Remember that most of us have this virus in our system, many of us have had since we were kids, so we just have to learn how to live with it. Doing everything possible to keep your body healthy and avoiding an outbreak in the first place is the first step. But, if despite your best efforts, you still get a cold sore, there are some simple things you can do to learn how to get rid of cold sores fast.

According to a story on CNN today, 83% of Internet users search online for health information.  Even more interesting is the fact that many people who use cell phones to search for this information are search for herpes or STDs (sexually transmitted diseases) information, according to Yahoo.

“Herpes” is the number 10 health-related search term on Google’s regular (non-mobile) list.

It’s suspected that many of these mobile searches are coming from a young group of users (ages 29 and under), since they embrace mobile technology at a more rapid clip than older folks in general.

It makes sense that so many people would search for this type of information via the internet instead of turning to their doctor first.  STD and Herpes information is widely available online and it can be accessed in the privacy of your own home.  STDs are such a sensitive and embarrassing condition (for some of us) that it makes sense to seek this information out anonymously at first.

Here’s a link to the full story:

http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/10/21/top.health.searches.answered/index.html?hpt=T2